OTL Updates & News
Who will close out this year's conference?
Who will be the keynotes for this year's conference?
What are the new email send limits in Qualtrics and what do you need to know about it?
Get your proposals in today!
In this discussion panelists talk about how instructors can support the mental health needs of their students.
Panelists Include:
- Marsha Wichmann
- Madison Schill
- Austin Williams
- Riley Gira
- Dr.…
Learn about the most common mental health concerns facing today’s college students (e.g., anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, substance use concerns), how to recognize these concerns, how to talk…
Who received the award this month?
Now seeking May nominations.
The Teaching in Higher Ed Podcast explores the art and science of being more effective at facilitating learning. There are more than 500 different episodes. Here is a sample of their episode titles:
- …
Registration now open!
The video from the recent panel discussion on supporting and retaining gen Z students is now available on our YouTube Channel.
In this discussion student panelists talk about ways you can support…
Monday, August 19, 2024
Each fall semester the Office of Teaching and Learning, in partnership with the NDSU Graduate School, offers a Graduate Teaching and Learning conference. This conference is…
Join us in congratulating these outstanding GTAs!
NDSU’s Office of Teaching and Learning offers a monthly Innovation in Teaching Award to recognize instructors for efforts to improve teaching and learning on campus.
Award recipients for March were:
…Now seeking April nominations.
Get your nominations in today!
Instructor mindset is conveyed through the class syllabus and other communication. Learn how you can identify what mindset your syllabus is conveying to students and how to make appropriate…
Take some time to show your graduate assistant how much you appreciate their dedication to teaching.
Now seeking March nominations.
NDSU’s Office of Teaching and Learning offers a monthly Innovation in Teaching Award to recognize instructors for efforts to improve teaching and learning on campus.
This month’s award recipient was:
…Schedule an instructional coaching session now before summer!
How familiar with assessment are you?
Now seeking February nominations.
Get your account today!
Learn how you can level up your teaching skills for Gen. Z.
Course proposals due Saturday, February 17.
Strategies are applicable to most disciplines.
Find out who received the award this month.
Now seeking January nominations.
Can you guess how many instructors were recognized this month?
Did you know all North Dakota licensed teachers are required to take graduate-level professional development classes to maintain their teaching license? The Office of Teaching and Learning’s Distance…
Creating Equitable Environments For Fostering Student Engagement
What is the difference between equality and equity? What is the difference between involvement and engagement? Why do my social…
Now seeking December nominations.
Give the gift of NDSU this holiday season!
Try these tips today!
NDSU's Early-Entry program is now accepting registrations. The Early-Entry Program allows high-school students in grades 10, 11, or 12 to take courses at NDSU while they complete their high-school…
Missed the webinar? You can still watch the presentation.
Do you know anyone on this list?
Now seeking November nominations.
Do you know a high school student who could benefit from additional challenge in their education?
Who was nominated for the Innovation in Teaching Award?
Explore online course design strategies that foster student success by minimizing the cognitive load required to navigate the virtual classroom. To access your dashboard, click the link below or go to…
Now seeking October nominations.
During the 2022-23 academic year, a designated task force studied the Student Course Experience Surveys (SCES formerly SROIs) process to identify sustainable best practices for administration and data…
Now seeking September nominations.
Now seeking August nominations.
Drs. Ali Amiri and Jodi Tangen have joined the Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) as faculty fellows for the 2023-2024 academic year. Faculty teaching fellows provide support and leadership through…
Grab Your Copy Today!
Find out who received this annual award.
The Inspiring Colleague award was presented to Trish Strom, assistant professor of practice in the School of Nursing, at NDSU’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference held Tuesday, May 23, 2023.…
All of the session videos for the 2023 Teaching & Learning Conference are now available online. This year’s theme was student retention.
Early-Entry Students Encouraged To Apply
Changing your survey display name in Qualtrics offers a few advantages. One of those advantages is that your survey will be more accessible and aligns with Universal Design principles. This can be…
Even though it’s tempting to disconnect immediately after finishing up the class, take a few minutes to revise your syllabus for next time while everything is still fresh in your mind.
Avoid getting numerous emails from students by posting the timeline for posting grades for the final assessment and course.
Set your students up for success by holding office hours for additional study time for the final exam or, if students are completing projects, workshop time to consult with you and receive feedback.
Sign up for Peer Teaching Partnership for the next semester. Select either the formal or informal track here >>
Have you kept your grade center up to date? If not, now’s a good time to catch up and communicate with students to let them know where they are at in the class.
Keep notes about what is going well with your class and what you want to change for next time. We think we will remember, but when it gets busy, it’s easy to forget.
The NDSU Office of Teaching and Learning has hired, Dr. Sarah Crary as the online programs coordinator. In this position, Dr. Crary will work with NDSU colleges and departments currently offering or…
Nominations Due: Thursday, March 30, 2023
The NDSU Graduate School invites faculty to nominate graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) for a special "Excellence in Instruction" award. Two GTAs will…
Getting students to work successfully in a group is not only important for your class, but it is an integral skill your students must learn for today's work environments. Learn specific strategies you…
Learn how you can put NDSU's CAS into your Qualtrics survey.
Effective and efficient online teaching rests on prioritizing teaching time to focus on high-impact instructional activities that promote interaction, presence, and participation. The key is to teach…
Was someone from your department or college recognized?
Want help building your final assessment? Consultants in the Office of Teaching and Learning can help, whether it’s a traditional exam or a performance assessment.
Students will learn more when they receive narrative feedback that tells them what they are doing well and how they can improve.
Have you set up your account yet?
What is the easiest way to print your survey? Find out here.
How can you use feedback to strengthen your teaching?
Learn tips to make group work more successful for your students.
Share the midterm feedback and how you will address any concerns with your students so they know you are listening.
A tutorial on how to create a form that autofills form fields when the individual takes the survey again at a later time.
Watch the Video >>
Prepare and administer a midterm feedback questionnaire in your classes. A survey template is available in the Qualtrics NDSU Library here >>
What do you need to know to ensure your survey is compliant?
The NDSU Group Decision Center walks you through a few tips to make viewing your Qualtrics reports easier.
Watch the Video >>
Do you know the different types of assessment, if not find out here.
Spring semester course materials orders are due 6-weeks prior to the start of the next semester. The NDSU Bookstore is required by law to list all course materials for all NDSU courses.
Learn tips on managing discussions in your class.
Learn more about the Student Course Experience Surveys your students will be asked to complete at the end of the semester. Find them at >>
Learn how to create basic forms and learn the basic features of Qualtrics. These basic features will help you gain confidence in setting up your own forms and surveys.
Watch the Video >>
Do you provide effective feedback to your students?
Your students will learn better and are more likely to retain the information when they can experience the content by seeing, hearing, saying, and writing. We often only plan for the seeing and…
Learn how to attach a file within your survey.
Watch the Video >>
Help your students get to know one another by using group activities to learn the content and allotting the first minute or two for introductions and sharing.
Learn how to create basic contact forms in Qualtrics.
Watch the Video >>
Learn how to incorporate active learning into your engineering classroom.
Administer a survey to get to know your students better and support their learning. A survey template is available in the Qualtrics NDSU Library.
Learn how to create a survey-respondent panel from your survey for use with future surveys.
Watch the Video >>
What do students think about active learning?
Everyone can use a reminder now and then.
Learn how to add a consent form to your survey.
Watch the Video >>
Do you know the difference between equity and equality?
Learn how you can put NDSU's CAS into your Qualtrics survey.
Watch the Video >>
Learn how to upload a file in a survey.
Watch the Video >>
Your syllabus speaks volumes about your mindset, learn how.
Know someone leaving NDSU who holds access to your vital Qualtrics surveys?
Ever wondered how the forms you fill out know if you've typed your email address incorrect, find out here>>
Take a break and refresh your assessment skills.
Learn how you can copy your survey into a different account.
Learn how to do a sample question set up.
Watch the Video >>
In case you missed Dr. Howard's presentation, you can view this archive video.
View this keynote session from the 2022 Teaching and Learning Conference.
Come find out how to best assess your graduate program.
Learn how you can do workflow email triggers.
Come refresh your skills in building assessments and learn new tips and tricks.
Tuesday, November 22, 2023
9:30 A.M. | Hidatsa, MU
Exactly how to assess graduate program learning outcomes has long been a mystery to many in our campus community, and, until the mystery is…
Thursday, November 17
2 P.M. | Alumni Center Atrium
Learn about barriers and solutions for equity and accessibility in education from guest speaker, Ranjitsinh Disale. Disale is a champion of…
Quickly and easily turn your inaccessible matrix questions into user-friendly side-by-side questions.
Learn how to fix it.
Learn how to set up your data so that the statistics department can easily help you out.
Watch the Video >>
Learn how you can easily download a survey from NDSU library and reuse it.
Learn how to set up a vote in qualtrics. This basic feature allows you to obtain responses from multiple people.
Learn how you can make your surveys accessible.
Learn about the top three most crucial items in the survey options everyone should know.
A tutorial on setting up pre and post survey without a user code.
NDSU is offering new online certificates to increase access to technology skills training for industry-recognized programs such as Amazon Web Services, Salesforce, CompTIA and Pega. The courses…
A simple tutorial on how to recode values on your survey.
Learn how you can easily automate numbering on your survey questions.
A tutorial on how to log in to qualtrics support if you ever run into any issues or questions.
Watch this video from the 2022 Teaching & Learning Conference.
Watch this video from the 2022 Teaching & Learning Conference.
Based on the work of the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), three brain networks were identified that are an integral part of learning:
• affective
• recognition
• strategic
Though our…
Learn from each other.
At the 2022 Teaching and Learning Conference there were so many good sessions in each of the four different learning tracks. We hope you were able to attend at least a few sessions. But, since…
Find out which channels OTL is active on.
Find out who received the annual Innovation in Teaching and Inspiring Colleague awards.
College STAR (Supporting Transition Access and Retention: A UNC System Initiative Supporting Students with Learning Differences) is a grant-funded project that seeks to help campuses become more…
Learn how UDL can help diverse learners in higher education settings in this YouTube video.
Presenters: Dr. Lori Swinney and Lorna Olsen
Participants will be introduced to the three guiding principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and see examples applied to course design. Learn…
By Raghu Krishnaiah and Kelly Hermann
For too long, colleges and universities have waited for students with disabilities to request accommodations before deciding to remove barriers to access and full…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help your students succeed.
Hint #16: Reflect on how the semester went and what adjustments you might want to make.
View and be inspired by this YouTube playlist that offers a series of videos showing individuals who failed (sometimes more than once) before they achieved success.
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help your students succeed.
By Casey Peterson
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck says, “the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life”. Mindset is that view. She outlines two predominant mindsets…
By Holly DeVries
In this presentation, Dr. Mari Borr highlights various asynchronous teaching practices to consider utilizing in your next course. According to Dr. Borr, several approaches that make…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help your students succeed.
Hint #14: Put together a study plan for final exams.
View our 16-week tips for students handout >>
By Chris Palmer
I started teaching at American University at the age of 56 after a rewarding career as an environmental and wildlife film producer. That was almost ten years ago, and I’ll be the…
Civil and productive discussions are an important part of higher education both in the classroom and in today's work environments. Facilitating good discussions in your classroom teaches your students…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help your students succeed.
Civil and productive discussions are an important part of higher education both in the classroom and in today's work environments. Facilitating good discussions in your classroom teaches your students…
By Holly DeVries
In this panel discussion, Dr. Beena Ajmera, Dr. Kimberly Booth, and Dr. Theresa Shume discuss the pros and cons of continuing adaptive Hyflex practices when classes are in the “new…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help your students succeed.
Hint #12: Check your Campus Connection account for any holds that may prevent timely registration for next semester
Developing strong communication skills is essential when it comes to building a successful career. But your communication skills play a key role in your private life too. Learn about the most…
Getting students to work successfully in a group is not only important for your class, but it is an integral skill your students must learn for today's work environments. Learn specific strategies you…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can helpyour students succeed.
Have you ever talked with a friend about a problem, only to realize that he just doesn’t seem to grasp why the issue is so important to you? Have you ever presented an idea to a group, and it’s met…
Getting students to work successfully in a group is not only important for your class, but it is an integral skill your students must learn for today's work environments. Learn specific strategies you…
By Holly DeVries
In this presentation, Dr. Angela Hodgson shares tips for instructors on how to increase empathy and implement inclusive practices in their teaching.
Collaboration among teachers, and school administrators, is extremely important when it comes to effectively engaging with and reaching students in the classroom. In fact, to truly be an effective…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #10: Think about Spring registration and meet with your
academic advisor.
View our 16-week tips for students…
By Kimberly Hillyard
One of the key elements to teaching online is effective communication between teacher and student. We would like to think that our communications are the most important ones that…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #9: Take a look at your Degree Map (https://ndsudm.civitaslearning.com/) and familiarize yourself
with the…
Getting students to work successfully in a group is not only important for your class, but it is an integral skill your students must learn for today's work environments. Learn specific strategies you…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #8: Midterm of the semester – check in with faculty members
again and prepare for midterms. Look ahead for any big
…
Monday, March 1, 2021
3 p.m. | Via Zoom
With Dr. Stacy Duffield, OTL director; Sharley Kurtz, LAIC assistant manager; Lori Swiers, LAIC instructional designer
Learn the characteristics of…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #7: Browse your major department’s webpage – view faculty
bios and learn about their research interests. Can you
…
In this panel discussion, several participants of the Learning and Applied Innovation Center’s (LAIC) Instructional Design Project (funded through allocated CARES funds from the state of North Dakota)…
There are many compelling reasons to choose a career in academia.
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #6: Learn about academic organizations to get involved with
for your major.
View our 16-week tips for students…
If you ask a student what makes him or her successful in school, you probably won’t hear about some fantastic new book or video lecture series. Most likely you will hear something like, “It was all…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #5: Have you sent or received any emails from your advisor
yet? If not, now is a great time to have an initial…
Read a recap of this session from the 2021 Teaching and Learning Conference.
Based on the work of the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), three brain networks were identified that are an integral part of learning:
• affective
• recognition
• strategic
Though our…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #4: Check on your current grade and attendance for each
class. If you missed assignments or quizzes can you make
…
By David Robson for BBC
January 1 may seem like an arbitrary date to start self-improvement, but there are good psychological reasons for doing so.
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #3: Find a good study space on campus that works for
you. Spaces include your residence hall/apartment, the
…
Read a recap on this session at the 2021 Teaching and Learning Conference.
By Sarah Pruitt
The custom of making New Year’s resolutions has been around for thousands of years, but it hasn’t always looked the way it does today.
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #2: Identify the office hours on your syllabi for each class
and keep the list handy for when you need them!
View…
The Harvard Health Publishing blog offers Seven Steps for Making Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick. While this article is written for the standard resolutions people make, these steps may also be…
Providing little hints throughout the semester can help
your students succeed.
Hint #1: Ensure your class registration is final, inquire about wait
lists if needed, and introduce yourself to your…
Read a recap of the Ungrading session at the 2021 Teaching and Learning Conference.
How do you manage your story through the use of assessment?
Become certified in UDL.
Read a recap of this session at the 2021 Teaching and Learning Mini-Virtual Conference.
Need some instructional inspiration?
Get certified over your holiday break!
Do you know the different instructional design models?
Do you know how the field of instructional design began?
Little Hints For Instructors
Get certified when you enroll in this course.
Become certified in these new certificate courses for NDSU instructors.
Little Hints For Instructors
Have you set up your SCE survey yet?
Are you a life changing teacher?
How can Hannah Prigge be helpful to your students?
Little Hints For Instructors
Register to get certified today!
Watch this video for details.
How can Brad Jones be helpful to your students?
Little Hints For Instructors
By helping others, you'll be helping yourself.
How can Megan Talcott assist your students?
Little Hints For Instructors
How can Matthew Sanchez assist your students?
Little Hints For Instructors
View these videos for awesome productivity tips.
Little Hints For Instructors
What does faculty workload really look like?
Little Hints For Instructors
What does a pontoon have to do with pedagogical research? Find out here!
People are not born with these skills.
Little Hints For Instructors
What efficiency hacks do you have to share?
Little Hints For Instructors
How do you introduce your students to research? Read about this resource.
“This is why our children find video games so enjoyable and even addictive,”...
Little Hints For Instructors
Little Hints For Instructors
How much do you really know about what a reference librarian does?
Little Hints For Instructors
Watch video from the 2021 Graduate Teaching and Learning Conference.
Watch videos of sessions offered at the 2021 Graduate Teaching and Learning Conference.
Can your story empower NDSU students?
Find out the best place to find all resources for faculty.
Watch videos of sessions offered at the 2021 Graduate Teaching and Learning Conference.
Little Hints For Instructors
Watch videos of sessions offered at the 2021 Graduate Teaching and Learning Conference.
Little Hints For Instructors
Find out what OTL's priorities are for the coming years.
What tips would you add to this list?
Learn tips and tricks for a successful year.
Little Hints For Instructors
How to create an engaging first day agenda.
A small but meaningful gesture. Learn some tips on how to do this.
More resources on academic freedom.
What do we need to do to protect academic freedom?
Hear instructors present their most successful and unique teaching ideas.
View a resource video about academic freedom.
Could these certification courses benefit your teaching?
How can you help students be more resilient?
How can you use asynchronous learning in your classroom.
Is academic freedom essential to democracy, read more, then let us know your thoughts.
Learn to simplify your grading process.
Learn more about Universal Design in education.
Learn ways to increase your empathy for your students.
Workshop video now available online.
Find out who will lead OTL.
A tool to assist in making your class more accessible.
In this presentation and blog post, Lori Sweeney offers important considerations about different kinds of assessments. When we first think of assessment, we tend to think of tests, but there are many…
In the past, I have written here about how to take care of yourself during the pandemic. As co-chairs of the mental health committee of the President’s Council for Campus Well-being, Emily Fraizer…
Learn simple ways faculty can promote their student's health and well-being.
Food insecurity is a real situation happening on our campus, read more about one student affected by food insecurity.
Learn tips and tricks for using Zoom as a teaching tool.
Find out how you can you make your class discussion boards more interactive.
Take away a variety of tips and tricks beginning with assessments.
Learn more about the Human Development and Family Science department's approach to program assessment.
Tammy Cummings provides important information for managing your HyFlex course.
Graduate student, Amy Tichy, writes about the science of learning and what you need to know.
Sharley Kurtz and Daniel Erichsen explain where to begin with HyFlex teaching.
Learn more about how instructors can support their students' research.
Learn how to delete or reduce coursework without affecting the course outcomes.
Read ideas for incorporating flexibility into your remote learning class.
Learn four strategies to help your students better cope with remote learning during these uncertain times.
Learn how you can help students cope better during these uncertain times.
Read about strategies for managing an overwhelming amount of student emails.
Read suggestion #2 to better assist students during these uncertain times.
Learn suggestions to better assist students during these challenging times.
Now, more than ever, it is important for us faculty and staff to watch our for signs of distress in our students. How do we do that with remote learning. Read this article for some tips.
One thing is certain, COVID-19 has thrown everyone some uncertain times. How do you care for yourself in these uncertain times? Continue reading for some tips.
Read more about what our Shadow a Student Challenge participants learned about student connections at NDSU.
Ever wonder why being an authentic instructor is important, continue reading to find out more.
Learn how the zone of proximal development can have an impact on your teaching.
What do you do with the negative feedback you receive? Keep reading for some solid advice.
How do your expectations impact your students? Learn more.
How do you handle small group learning? Learn more.
Why is it important to know why you teach?
A website designed to understand the learning needs of Veterans.
I throw out my notes after every semester, and start a completely new set the next semester. That way, the material is fresh and I can use new case studies. After all, the world changes every day!
You might not realize it, but several of the students sitting in your class might be...
How do you use documentaries in your classes?
Overwhelm and burnout are a real hazards, especially in academia. To quote Sherrie Bourg Carter in Psychology Today, burnout is a ‘state of chronic stress’ and can lead to:
- Physical and emotional…
How to maintain your enthusiasm when the middle of semester demands are getting the best of you.
Learn why learning goals are important for your course.
A growth mindset is motivational. Find out how to foster this mindset in your students.
Learn what active learning is and how to incorporate it into your class, even if your class has 300 students.
It is important to know and address learning gaps in your class.
Learn why it is important to explain why students are given an assignment.
Learn one of the best techniques for getting students talking in your class.
Want a concept to stick with your students, try this idea.
What college students want from their instructor.
Perspectives from first-generation students about the things we do to help them feel like they belong and can succeed.
Lighten your teaching load using ACE to your advantage.
Learn 5 ways your students will improve using SCALE-UP.
The one thing that all teachers should do starting on day one of class.
Of the studies reviewed, there were several recurring components that were found to be a part of having a successful first day of class.
The Program Assessment Award goes to ...
NDSU’s new Office of Teaching and Learning is scheduled to open July 1. The office’s role is to support the creation of student-centered, innovative educational programs and provide professional…